![]() The bees, in their excessive zeal, disregarded this command of the Creator. ![]() ![]() Red Clover Folklore: According to a German legend, the good Lord willed that bees, like men, should rest on Sunday from their work. Springs the White-man’s Foot in blossom.” Wadsworth’s epic poem, The Song of Hiawatha (1855) loosely based on Ojibwe legends, tells of the “White Man’s Foot”, a reference to White Clover that grew best on foot paths and of the bees (also introduced by the white-man) that preceded the settlers:. It is a major source of nectar for what is considered one of the world’s finest honeys. Its use has decreased in the last 60 years as it has been replaced with nitrogen fertilizers and soybeans or alfalfa in farming although it may show some resurgence with the growth of organic farming practices. In the USA, the first fifty years of the 1900’s saw vast acreages of clover grown as food for livestock and as a source of nitrogen and humus for soil improvement. This, when properly prepared will eclipse all other honey…” One is gathered from clover, and the other from the abominable nuisance, the Canada Thistle… the proportions are about one part of clover honey to two parts of thistle honey. Thomas offers the following advice on winning first prize for honey, “…to be first-class, (honey) should possess the following characteristics light color, thickness, and pleasant flavor… I can safely say there are only two kinds of honey gathered in Canada which possess all the above qualities. White clover, Trifolium repens, was introduced into the United States and Canada by early European settlers where its honey producing properties were prized. It is mentioned in Kilian’s 1599 Dutch dictionary as klauern honigh ‘clover honey’ where it is defined as “mel optimum & candidissimum, ex trifolio pratensi” (‘good, very clear honey from purple clover’) This led to Klaifre and then to Old English clafre or modern English clover 1Īlthough clover cultivation started in Europe in the 16 th century, clover honey was already well known. The word clover is likely derived from old German klaiwaz which refers to the stickiness of the sap of clover or the honey produced by it. Another honey plant not to be included in the clover family is Mexican Clover ( Richardia scabra L.), also known as Florida Pusley, actually a member of the Rubiaceae family. Nevertheless, they all belong to the same leguminous pea family, Fabaceae, that include many excellent honey plants. Other plants often included in the “clover” family are Alfalfa, Sweet Clover, and Sainfoin Clover but these are from a different genera and should not be included within the broad term of “Clover”. True monofloral Clover honey is somewhat rare as it is often mixed with other honeys and called Clover honey in the retail trade. Most single flower clover honey is produced from agricultural crops although clover also grows wild and finds its way into many honeys. It is a popular fodder crop and as a member of the legume family, naturally adds nitrogen to the soil. Of the 250 species, the most important for honey production are White or Dutch Clover, Alsike Clover, Red Clover and Crimson Clover. Clover is a prolific source of honey, growing in temperate climates around the world. ![]()
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